Moling under road and subsoiling water pipe through field

[Chris333]

I have been quoted to mole under a small B road and run about 340m of 32mm mdpe through a field.

The cost seems extortionate it has come at over £14k.

Anyone else have any experience with what the costs are for this work or had any quotes for something similar

This is in the Devon area.

 

[suffolksmallholder]

I put a 40mm mole hole under a B road. Total run was about 1000 metres. Cost £2,500 plus the vat.
I excavated the main connection area
and the contractors used a tractor powered 6” chain trencher for the main trench then I made the hole for both entrance and exit of the mole itself.
The hardest part was under the road as the sub-base was rock chalk and it took 45 mins to cross. Had two goes as the first came out too high.
I think you are having your trousers pulled down IMO
SS

 

[Mc115reed]

At that cost I’d want an 8inch culvert putting in so your future proofed for irrigation pipes/ slurry pipes/ electric fence wires ect…

 

[renewablejohn]

I have been quoted to mole under a small B road and run about 340m of 32mm mdpe through a field.

The cost seems extortionate it has come at over £14k.

Anyone else have any experience with what the costs are for this work or had any quotes for something similar

This is in the Devon area.

Should be no need to mole. Try and get a copy of the district road surveyor road plans of that stretch of road. You should find marked all the "animal" culverts or stream culverts along that stretch. Just insert your mdpe pipe making sure you wrap it in tar coated hessian. "deters the rats and makes it look like old steam pipe" .

 

[upnortheast]

Had a 32 mm hole moled under a B road last year £400

Only obstacles were a roadside drain & a shallow BT cable. Went through 1 metre deep to avoid.

I think you are supposed to get a permit from Highways which will add to the ££££ but our contractor`s attitude was JFDI

Might have to be more diligent if gas / fibre optic services are in range

As a guide a recent quote for trenchless 60mm drainage was £2.60 / m

 

[Midnight plough boy]

Had a 63mm water pipe thrust bored under a single track road within the vicinity of an underground electrical cable. Took them about a couple of hours and think they charged me around £1000. That was about 10 years ago.

 

[vantage]

I have been quoted to mole under a small B road and run about 340m of 32mm mdpe through a field.

The cost seems extortionate it has come at over £14k.

Anyone else have any experience with what the costs are for this work or had any quotes for something similar

This is in the Devon area.

They’ve quoted for an underpass!
Going under a road here, no convenient drains or culverts, concussive mole, £800.

 

[Badshot]

Done it myself , where there was no chance of hitting anything.
Hired the kit.
Tbh if I had the kit, and I knew I could charge whatever I liked, I probably would, within reason.
What's the other option?
Dig the highway up?

That'll cost a load more than £14k.

Just depends on what competition there is locally.

 

[Chris333]

Thanks for all your input.

Well it looks like the jury is in and that quote is way off.

The permit is £495 from the council so its not even like they can justify the cost from that perspective.

Anyone know of any contractors in Devon that could do the moling work? I know I can look on google which is what I did and ended up with a £14k quote, a personal recommendation would be far more preferable!

 

[Chris333]

Done it myself , where there was no chance of hitting anything.
Hired the kit.
Tbh if I had the kit, and I knew I could charge whatever I liked, I probably would, within reason.
What's the other option?
Dig the highway up?

That'll cost a load more than £14k.

Just depends on what competition there is locally.

What did it cost to hire the impact mole?

 

[Badshot]

What did it cost to hire the impact mole?

No idea, was 25 plus years ago.

You need a road compressor and mole.
And a good eye for getting it to come out in the right spot.

 

[Chris333]

Should be no need to mole. Try and get a copy of the district road surveyor road plans of that stretch of road. You should find marked all the "animal" culverts or stream culverts along that stretch. Just insert your mdpe pipe making sure you wrap it in tar coated hessian. "deters the rats and makes it look like old steam pipe" .

I like your thinking on that - I will see if I can get a copy

 

[mobileweld]

I know a man that dug a hole each side and knocked a scaffold tube through with a point welded on the end then cut the end to length

 

[upnortheast]

Lets try & put some numbers on this
Assuming this is your side of the meter & it`s not a job the Water Co are supervising
340m pipe inc fittings £1.50 m £500
Digger say 30m hour ??? 12 hours @ £30 / hour £360
Back filling £100

mole under road £1500
Highways permit £500

So £3500 should be possible ?
Feel free to change the numbers if you have better info

 

[Kevtherev]

Thanks for all your input.

Well it looks like the jury is in and that quote is way off.

The permit is £495 from the council so its not even like they can justify the cost from that perspective.

Anyone know of any contractors in Devon that could do the moling work? I know I can look on google which is what I did and ended up with a £14k quote, a personal recommendation would be far more preferable!

There’s Tom yeoman not sure where you are in Devon or there’s a friend of mine in the Cotswolds that does it
BD Westby ltd 07831846035.

 

[Mc115reed]

I know a man that dug a hole each side and knocked a scaffold tube through with a point welded on the end then cut the end to length

Not a bad plan really

 

[tinsheet]

I know a man that dug a hole each side and knocked a scaffold tube through with a point welded on the end then cut the end to length

Same here. Also know a chap dug a cross a lane, with a disc cutter mini digger laid a water pipe,
Covered back up with tarmac rolled in etc. Looked the part, Done in the early hrs mind,
20 years back now , no questions asked yet.

 

[Simon Chiles]

I know a man that dug a hole each side and knocked a scaffold tube through with a point welded on the end then cut the end to length

A friend of mine did a similar job only he had to go 8m and he only had a 4m tube. He’s the sort of bloke who’s very meticulous and he lined everything up exactly and managed to get the holes to line up first time. To this day I still can’t fathom out how he managed to achieve it.

 

[renewablejohn]

I like your thinking on that - I will see if I can get

Roads around here the council surveyors maps are online. If your struggling PM me the road number and location and my old road construction contacts may be able to help.

 

[upnortheast]

@Chris333 When we had a pipe to go under a road local plumbers knew who the contractors were to call